Effects of Tai Chi on working memory in older adults: evidence from combined fNIRS and ERP

Chen Wang; Yuanfu Dai; Yuan Yang; Xiaoxia Yuan; Mengjie Zhang; Jia Zeng; Xiaoke Zhong; Jiao Meng; Changhao Jiang

doi:10.3389/fnagi.2023.1206891

Effects of Tai Chi on working memory in older adults: evidence from combined fNIRS and ERP

Front Aging Neurosci. 2023 Jun 29:15:1206891. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1206891. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Chen Wang¹, Yuanfu Dai¹, Yuan Yang², Xiaoxia Yuan¹, Mengjie Zhang³, Jia Zeng¹, Xiaoke Zhong¹, Jiao Meng¹, Changhao Jiang^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ The Center of Neuroscience and Sports, Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing, China.
² College of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
³ School of Physical Education and Sport Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China.
⁴ School of Kinesiology and Health, Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing, China.

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the effects of a 12-week Tai Chi exercise intervention on working memory in older adults using ERP-fNIRS.

Method: Fifty older adults were randomly assigned to either an experimental group receiving a 12-week Tai Chi exercise intervention or a control group receiving regular daily activities. Working memory was assessed using the n-back task before and after the intervention, and spatial and temporal components of neural function underlying the n-back task were measured using ERP-fNIRS.

Results: The experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in reaction time and accuracy on the 2-back task and showed higher activation levels in the R-DLPFC. Additionally, the Tai Chi group displayed significant increases in P3 amplitude in the overall n-back task.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that Tai Chi interventions can enhance working memory in older adults, as evidenced by increasing neural activity and improving HbO in the R-DLPFC during the 2-back task.

Keywords: ERP; Tai Chi; fNIRS; older adults; working memory.

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 31771244), the Open Research Fund of the National Center for Protein Sciences at Peking University in Beijing (grant number KF-20212), and the Beijing Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 5212002).